The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1887-05-27
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
PROPHETS WHO FoRETOLD THE
ASSASSINATION OF GARFIELD.


ASSASSINATION OF GARFIELD.
Some "Reminiscences of Gen. Swaim-An
Adventure 1t Mentor With Blood
thirsty" Italian-Vanda1ism and the
Washington Monument.
Special Correspondence
.s WASHINGTON, May 16
The new statue is bringing out some fresh
stories in regard to President Garfield. Gen.
Swain told me some Interesting matter about
his assassination. He says that for fnonths
prior to his DEATH indeed from the day of his
nomination at Chicago, Garfield received ap.
prehensive notes from his friends. "HS life
was thought to be in danger" said Gen.
Swain, "and number of prophecies were
made, chiefly by cranks, that he would be
assassinated. remember curious instance
of this kind which happened about a month
before his assassination. A colored woman
called at the judge advocate generals office
and asked for me. She was told that | was
busy and asked her business. She replied
that her business was with Gen Swain alone
and could be done with no one else but him.
She then went away saying that she would
return within an hour. The messenger came
iii and reported her call, and | told him to
admit her when she came back. He did So
She was tall, good looking, honest faced
colored woman, as solemn as graveyard
and evidently deeply impressed with her mis-
sion. She began her conversation by telling
ME that he president was going to be killed,
and st,i,i that she had overheard the plot to
take his life. | then asked her who she was
and where she came from.
Xxx
"She replied that she came from South
Carolina, and that the plot to take the presi-
dents life was laid there. She had overheard
it and had taken the first train for Washing
ton. She then described in full detail the
plot, and her story was remarkable one.
She said there was deserted cabin near the
village where she lived, and that she had no
ticed that several men often went to this at
night. She had wondered what they might
be doing, and in order to find out crept into
the loft of the cabin. the first night she slept
there the men did not appear but the second
night they came and talked together for
long time They talked about President Gar
field, and decided that he must be killed, and
one of the men handed the man who was to
do the killing a bag Of money, and agreed
with him to give him more after the killing
was done. This money, she said, was gold,
and it was counted over under her eyes while
she looked down through crack i'll the floor
above. She gave the name of the man who
paid the money, but she says she did not
know the man who had been engaged to do
the killing.
II supposed at first that she was crazy, and
am not quite certain in my mind yet as to
whether she was or not I tried to trip her up
as to her story, but she repeated it again and
again during different calls without the
slightest variation as to fact She claimed
she had started from South Carolina the day
after the plot was laid, she had called at the
White House, but could not get admission,
and she had been referred to me- asked her
if she in ended to stay about the city for
few days. and, if she did, told her that she
might look around and see if the persons she
had seen pl''; ting were in Washington. She
sail she would do so, but that she could not
remain long, as she had no money I then
q ';etl her il she could work. She replied that
SIZE could do general houseworK, and I sent
her with a note to Mrs Blaine, asking her to
supply her with a place if she found any of
her friends in need of such help. 1t was
through Mrs. Blaine that she got work in
WnrnIpy's hotei, and I do not know what
finally became Of her. She was certainly a
conSlluIillte actress, and whether she really
overheard some conversation from bits of
which she constructed this story, whether
she had trumped up the story to get place,
or whether she was crazy, I do not know"
"rell me, general" said l, "the first intilna-
ton you received of the possibility of Gar
fields assassinati ion."
at was" said Gen. Swain, "iust at the
close Of the nominating convention at Chi
cago. We were returning to Cleveland in a
special car, and at Norwalk I received tele-
gram from friend i'll New York, warning
me to keep my eyes ON Garfield, and saying
in the crowd at Cleveland there would be a
good opportunity for an assassination if such
a thing might be contemplated. The tele-
gram stated that the writer did not send it
from a knowledge of any plot, but from a
strong presentment that there was danger
ahead At Cleveland we found an immense
crowd, and I kept very close behind Garfield.
There was no attempt, and if any person had
attempted such thing at Cleveland the
crowd would have ground him to powder in
an instant AT Mentor we received many in
timations of assassination. and it seemed to
me that half the cranks in the country had
come there. 1t was the same at Washington;
and day rarely passes at the White House
that some man with unbalanced brain does
not attempt to see the president. &@s-
*** t
"One of the most remarkable of the Mentor
experiences" Gen. Swain continued, "was
with an Italian, who, it was said. had been
expelled from the order of the Jesuits, and
who we received word from Cleveland was
coming out to as,assinate the president. Tie
word was brought to us by DR.. Streator and
Yes Everett, two of the most prominent
citizens of Cleveland, and we also got a note
about the matter from Edwin Cowles of The
Cleveland Leader. Dr. Streator and Mr..
Everett rode out to Mentor through a driving
storm and reached there in the middle of the
night to warn us. | let them in and they
excitedly laid the plot before me- The next
day, sure enough, the Italian came. received
him and chatted with him for some little
time. He was very anxious to have an inter-
view with Gen. Garfield, but I put him
Off. Upon talking with him I found that
there was no danger of his being an assassin
was much interested in his conversation, and
talked with him about himself and expert
ences for three hours. He had Travelled
widely and he had claimed to know all about
the order of Jesuits whose mysteries he un-
folded to me, and against whom he wished to
warn Gen. Garfield. was SO much inter-
ssted in him that I described him to Gen.
Garfield, and he was at once very anxious
10 see him and told me to bring him in to
MS room. Garfield was never afraid of
He was always anxious to see
any one who it was said thought of taking
his life, and he was full of physical courage.
brought the Italian into the library, and
'at down on one side of him and watched
aim closely while he and Garfield
,alked. He charmed Garfield as much
IS he had me, and among all of that
number of brilliant characters and the most
noted men of the United States who called at
Mentor during that fall there was not one
Who compared with him in conversational
utilities or wide range of information. He
eemed to know the constitution and person
lel OF every government on the face of the
,lobe. He knew the private life and personal
of the great leaders of the
lifferent governments of Europe, and he
allsed for hours in the most interesting way.
fairfield was so pleased with him that he had
i'm stay all night, and when he went away
lext day he accompanied him to the gate, |
'ade him goodby and asked him to call again.
"Wliilv he was talking with Garfield Edwin
;owles called at Mentor. He saw the italian
vho he had supposed to be an assassin chat
ing with the man whom he was to assassin |
te, and was hcrrified. His fears were, how
ver nfouuGed and we never saw the 4